Movement in Relationship (MIR)
A small, therapeutically held group for exploring how we relate, through voice, movement and deep play
In person in Edinburgh · Four Wednesdays in November · Limited to 5 participants
We learn how to be in relationship long before we have words for it, and much of that learning lives in the body. Movement in Relationship is a weekly group where you can explore your relational history and expectations through improvised sound and movement. Guided by an experienced dance/movement psychotherapist, the group offers a space to notice how you meet yourself and others, and to try out new ways of being, expressing, and relating.
Dates: Wednesdays, 4, 11, 18 and 25 November 2026
Time: 13:00–16:00
Location: A studio in Edinburgh (exact address shared on registration; please note this is not at The Whole Works)
Group size: Maximum 5 participants
Fee: £55 per session, £220 total (pay weekly or in advance)
Registration deadline: 21 October 2026
To register or ask questions: Contact Madelanne
About MIR
Many of us understand our relationship patterns quite well in our heads, yet rarely get the chance to feel them in the body, in the moment, with other people. MIR offers that chance. In the group, you'll tune in to your moment-to-moment experience (sensation, breath and the impulse to move) and let it find expression through voice and movement. The atmosphere is one of "deep play": exploratory, non-performative and supportive.
Because MIR is interactive, it offers a way to connect more deeply with yourself while also exploring how you show up with others: how you approach, withdraw, lead, follow, hold back or take up space. These patterns tend to surface naturally in movement and sound, often before they can be put into words. Many people find MIR a meaningful companion to therapy or other personal growth work.
Is MIR for you?
MIR may be a good fit if you:
Want to explore your patterns in relationships in a direct, embodied, here-and-now way
Would like to grow in body awareness, self-expression or confidence in being seen
Are looking for a small, supportive group alongside your own personal or therapeutic work
MIR may not be the right fit at this time if you are living with significant unprocessed trauma (including PTSD), bipolar disorder that is currently active, a current or past experience of psychosis, or a personality disorder. In these situations the group can feel destabilising, and it isn't recommended.
If you tend to live mostly in your head and feel quite disconnected from your body, MIR can be an introduction to embodied practice, but it may also feel intense at first. If you're unsure whether the group is right for you, Madelanne is happy to talk it through with you.
What to expect
You don't need any dance, singing or performance experience. Although MIR uses vocal sound, movement, and improvisation, the focus is on your inner felt-sense experience — it is not about dancing, singing, or performing! Early sessions are more structured, with guided games and interactive exercises that introduce the practice and help you build comfort with using your voice and body at your own pace. You choose how much to engage at all times.
Each session typically includes:
Body and voice warm-up
Individual exploration: connecting to yourself through sound and movement
Group exploration: engaging with one another in sound and movement
Verbal sharing: reflecting on experiences, insights, feelings, needs and requests
From the start, the group practises Compassionate Communication (Nonviolent Communication), a shared, non-judgemental way of speaking about your own and each other's experience. Each session includes time to share insights and to process anything significant that came up. If you're in therapy, you may find this material rich to bring back into your sessions.
Influences
MIR draws on Dance/Movement Therapy, Authentic Movement and Roy Hart Voice Work.
Your facilitator
Madelanne Rust-D'Eye, MA, MSME/T is a Registered Member of the BACP. She holds an MA in Somatic Counselling Psychology with specialisations in Dance/Movement Psychotherapy and Body Psychotherapy (2012), and works as a psychotherapist in private practice in Edinburgh.
How to join
MIR is therapeutic, but it is not psychotherapy. It is designed to accompany other healing or growth work you may be doing. Before the group begins, you'll have a 20-minute online orientation call with Madelanne. This is a chance to talk about what you hope to get from the group and to ask any questions or raise any concerns.
The group is kept small to allow depth, and sessions are held with a high degree of confidentiality.